JP3039313B2 - Lock mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lock mechanism, and more particularly, to a method of inserting an insertion piece having a recess formed at a front side of a tip into an insertion hole, and forcing the insertion piece into the insertion hole. The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for locking the wedge-shaped projection and the recess by locking the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a joint connector to which a lock mechanism of this kind is applied and which has a bracket holder for fixing to a bracket of a vehicle as shown in FIGS.

[0003] The joint connector 1 includes a cylindrical housing 2 having a partition wall 2a formed in the middle thereof, and the partition wall 2a holds a bus bar 3 in the form of a male terminal fitting toward each opening. The female connector 4 that can be inserted into the housing 2 is a female terminal fitting 5 that can be fitted and connected to the bus bar 3.
Holding. On the other hand, a bracket holder 2b that opens to one side is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 2. The bracket holder 2b is surrounded by the side walls 2b1 and 2b1, including the outer peripheral wall of the housing 2, the ceiling wall 2b2, and the back wall 2b3 from five directions, and is formed so that the flat bracket 6 can be inserted from the opening. A wedge-shaped projection 2b5 is formed on the inside of the distal end of the flexible lock arm 2b4 extending from the ceiling wall 2b2. The bracket 6 has a recess 6a formed as a through hole in a portion facing the projection 2b5 with the tip inserted until it comes into contact with the inner wall.

When the bracket 6 is inserted into the opening of the bracket holder 2b from the tip, first, the lock arm 2b
4 is in contact with a wedge-shaped projection 2b5 formed at the tip of the projection 4. The protrusion 2b5 has its slope side facing the opening direction, and the tip of the bracket 6 bends and enters the lock arm 2b4 along the slope of the projection 2b5. When the tip abuts against the inner wall 2b3 of the bracket holder 2b, the concave portion 6a faces the projection 2b5, so that the lock arm 2b4 is restored and the projection 2b5 enters the concave portion 6a.

[0005] Since the wall surface of the wedge-shaped projection 2b5 on the vertical side other than the inclined surface and the recess 6a face each other and are locked,
When the bracket 6 is pulled out, it does not come off. That is, the bracket 6 is locked to the bracket holder 2b so as to be able to enter and not be retracted. 9 and 10, when the female connectors 4 and 4 are inserted into both openings of the housing 2, respectively, as shown in FIGS.
The female terminal fittings 5, 5 held in this manner are fitted and connected to the bus bar 3, and the electric wires 7 crimped to the female terminal fitting 5 are connected to each other via these fittings.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned conventional lock mechanism, the bracket holder 2b and the bracket 6
Since they are connected face-to-face with each other, there is directionality, and there is the inconvenience that the user must be sure to check the direction before mounting. In particular, the work efficiency is reduced in a case where the user gropingly attaches the device to a place where it cannot be seen. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a lock mechanism that can be easily mounted without a direction.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] To achieve the above purpose
ToThe invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that an upper surface of the housing has
Surround the four sides with the pair of side walls, the top wall, and the top
A bracket holder with a pair of openings is
And each of these openings extends from the top wall.
Lock arms with wedge-shaped projections
Insert the flat bracket into any of the openings.
However, one of the lock arms located at the back in the insertion direction
The tip of the bracket abuts the projection and the insertion direction
Of the other lock arm located in front of the
The feature is that the lock hole formed in the socket locks
You. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the lock mechanism according to the first aspect.
At the side of the lock arm of the bracket holder
In each position, a flexible piece having a wedge-shaped second protrusion at the tip
It has features where it is formed.

[0008] The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2.
In the locking mechanism, the flexible piece is
It is characterized by being located on the opposite side of the lock arm
You. The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the upper surface of the housing has
The side wall, upper wall, and upper surface of the housing
Multiple locations that have occupied space and communicate with this shared space
A bracket holder with an opening is provided,
Each of these openings has a wedge-shaped projection
Each has a raised lock arm,
Insert the bracket into the shared space from any opening
Of the lock arm located at the back in the insertion direction.
The end of the bracket abuts
Bracket on the protrusion of the other lock arm located on the near side.
The feature is that the lock hole formed in the port locks
You.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention having the above-described structure,
In addition, the bracket holder is open on both sides,
Lock arms are placed in each opening,
Push the bracket into the opening of the
The bracket slides on the slope of the wedge-shaped projection provided on the
The lock arm is pushed away and the bracket is
It is inserted all the way. Then, the lock arm on the back side
When the tip of the bracket touches the projection
The protrusion on the front lock arm is
Lock into the hole. That is, the protrusion of the lock arm on the back side
Acts as a stopper, and the protrusion of the lock arm on the near side
Locks the bracket irreversibly.

[0010] In the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, of the second projection, the bracket is inserted.
The one located on the back side in the direction acts as a stopper,
The one located on the near side acts to hold the bracket against the opposite wall surface so that it does not rattle.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, the second projection acts so as not to rattle the bracket, and presses the projection of the lock arm so that the projection further enters the lock hole. To improve the locking action. Further, in the invention according to claim 4 configured as described above, from the predetermined opening toward the shared space.
When the bracket is pushed in, it is ready for the lock arm on the near side
The bracket slides on the slope of the wedge-shaped projection
The arm is pushed away, and the bracket is supplied space
Is inserted all the way to the back. Then, on the lock arm on the back side
The bracket comes into contact with the projection provided and stops.
The protrusion on the lock arm of the bracket
To lock. That is, the protrusion of the lock arm on the back side is
Acts as a topper, and the protrusion of the lock arm on the near side
Lock the bracket irreversibly as usual.

[0012]

As described above, since the present invention can be inserted from two directions, it is possible to provide a lock mechanism having no directionality and capable of facilitating the mounting operation. Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of play in the mounted state. Further, since the number of stoppers is increased, it is possible to stably hold the stopper.
Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to make it harder to come off.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, since the insertion can be performed not only in two directions but also in many directions, the degree of freedom of mounting is further improved.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a joint connector to which a lock mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
2 and 3 show the joint connector in a sectional view. In the present embodiment, a lock mechanism is formed on a bracket holder formed on the outer surface to fix the cylindrical housing to the bracket of the vehicle body.

In FIG. 1, a cylindrical housing 10 has a partition wall 11 formed in the middle, and a female connector (not shown) can be inserted into and engaged with both openings. A bus bar 12 having a male tab 12a formed therein is press-fitted into the partition wall 11, and the male tab 12a protrudes at a predetermined position and is fitted and connected to a female terminal when the female connector is inserted.
Then, the female terminals held by the female connector are electrically connected to each other according to the shape of the bus bar 12.

A bracket holder 20 is formed on the upper surface of the housing 10. The bracket holder 20 has side walls 21 and 21 and an upper wall 22 so that a flat plate-shaped bracket 30 having a lock hole 31 as a recess formed at a position in front of the tip can be inserted and held along the upper wall 13 of the housing 10. The upper wall 13 of the housing 10, the side walls 21, 21 of the bracket holder 20, and the upper wall 22 form an insertion hole which is surrounded at four sides and opened at both ends.

In this embodiment, since the bracket 30 as the insertion piece is flat, the insertion hole is also rectangular in cross section. However, the shape of the insertion hole may be formed according to the insertion piece. For example, if the bracket 30 is a round bar, the bracket holder 20 may be formed in a cylindrical shape into which the round bar can be inserted. Further, since it is only necessary to accommodate the tip of the insertion piece and to have a plurality of openings, it is possible to use three or more insertion directions. That is, the bracket 3 in the center
As long as a shared space for holding the leading end of 0 is formed, FIG.
As shown in FIG.
1 and the upper wall 22 can also be formed.

The upper wall 22 is formed substantially in an H shape when viewed from above, and the right and left side walls 21 and 22 of the upper wall 22 are formed.
1 are provided with lock arms 23, 23 extending in both directions along the opening direction of the insertion hole, that is, along the extending direction of the side wall 21. Each lock arm 2
A wedge-shaped projection 24 protruding toward the upper wall 13 of the housing 10 is formed at the tip of 3. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the protrusion 24 has a slope formed on the opening side and a wall surface perpendicular to the insertion direction on the opposite side.

In this embodiment, the projections 2 formed at the tips of the two lock arms 23, 23 in the insertion hole are provided.
The space between 4 and 24 becomes the shared space. Further, in the bracket 30, the front end portion from the lock hole 31 can be inserted into this common space, and when the front end comes into contact with the projection 24 of the rear opening when inserted through any of the openings, the front side projection is formed. 24 is set to be locked in the lock hole 31. In this embodiment, the protrusion 24 is formed at the tip of the lock arm 23 having flexibility as an arm. However, if the protrusion is disposed so as to be retractable while being urged from the side with respect to the insertion hole. Well, for example, holding so that it can slide forward and backward with respect to the axial direction of the insertion hole,
A structure in which a spring biases the inside of the insertion hole may be employed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described. When the tip of the flat plate-shaped bracket 30 is inserted toward one of the openings in the bracket holder 20, the opening is surrounded by the upper wall 13 of the housing 10, the side walls 21 and 21 of the bracket holder 20, and the upper wall 22. The tip first contacts the projection 24 formed on the lock arm 23 located on the near side. However, since the projection 24 is disposed with the slope facing the opening, if the tip is pushed in, the projection 24 rides on the bracket 30 while bending the lock arm 23 using the slope. When the bracket 30 is further inserted, the distal end abuts on the projection 24 formed on the lock arm 23 on the opposite side beyond the connecting portion 22a. This time, since the projection 24 faces the projection 24 from the side opposite to the opening, it comes into contact with the vertical wall surface of the projection 24. Therefore, the projection 24 acts as a stopper and cannot be inserted any further. The projection 24 on the near side is formed by a lock hole 3 formed in the bracket 30.
1, the bent lock arm 23 is restored and the projection 24 enters the lock hole 31 and is locked. Since the inner wall of the lock hole 31 faces the vertical wall surface of the projection 24, the bracket 30 cannot be pulled out, and is locked so that it can enter and not retract. 2 and 3 show a state where the bracket 30 is inserted into the bracket holder 20 from directions opposite to each other.
As is clear from the figure, the bracket 30 is inserted through one opening.
Is inserted, the projection 24 on the rear side acts as a stopper, and when inserted from the opposite opening, the role of each projection 24 is reversed.

As described above, the upper wall 13 of the housing 10 and the bracket holder 2 can be inserted so that the bracket 30 having the lock hole 31 as a recess formed on the front side of the front end can be inserted.
An insertion hole surrounded by the side walls 21 and 21 and the upper wall 22 is formed, and a wedge-shaped projection elastically urged from the side by a lock arm 23 at each opening side of the insertion hole. 24 is formed such that its slope faces the opening side. The space between the projections 24 is the supply space,
When the bracket 30 is inserted into the common space from one opening, the front projection 24 enters the lock hole 31 and locks when the tip abuts on the rear projection 24, and is locked from the opposite direction. The same applies when inserting.

In the embodiment described above, the wedge-shaped projection 2
4 are arranged one by one for each opening, and when they do not act as stoppers, they are locked in the lock holes 31 of the bracket 30. However, as shown in FIGS. It is also possible to form a flexible piece 25 at a position where it does not stop, and form a similar wedge-shaped second protrusion 26 at the tip thereof. As shown in FIG. 5, the lock arm 23 and the flexible piece 25
Each of the projections 24 and the second projections 26 formed at the same time have mutually perpendicular wall surfaces flush with each other. Therefore, when the bracket 30 is inserted from one of the openings as shown in FIG. 6, the distal end comes into contact with the vertical wall surface of the plurality of projections 24 and 26, and the effect that the stopper is strengthened can be obtained. The second protrusion 26 on the front side is a bracket 30.
Does not enter the lock hole 31, so that the bracket 30 is kept pressed, which also has the effect of preventing the rattle. Further, by disposing the flexible piece 25 on the side opposite to the lock arm 23, the second protrusion 26 presses the bracket 30 toward the protrusion 24, and the protrusion 24 goes deeper into the lock hole 31. Lock correctly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a joint connector to which a lock mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the joint connector.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the joint connector.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a joint connector according to a modification.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a joint connector according to a modification.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a joint connector according to a modification.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a joint connector according to a modification.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional joint connector.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional joint connector.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a conventional joint connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Housing 13 ... Upper wall 20 ... Bracket holder 21 ... Side wall 22 ... Upper wall 23 ... Lock arm 24 ... Projection 25 ... Flexible piece 26 ... Second protrusion 30 ... Bracket 31 ... Lock hole

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/46 304 H01R 13/639

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pair of side walls and an upper side are provided on an upper surface of the housing.
Opposing positions surrounding the wall and the top surface of the housing on all sides
Is provided with a bracket holder having a pair of openings
At the same time, the openings extend from the upper wall and
Lock arms with wedge-shaped projections at each end are provided
And Insert a flat bracket into any of the openings
Also in front of one lock arm located at the back in the insertion direction.
The tip of the bracket abuts the projection, and
The protrusion of the other lock arm located on the near side in the
The lock hole formed in the bracket is locked at the beginning
A locking mechanism. 2. The lock of the bracket holder.
At the side of the arm, a wedge-shaped second projection is provided at the tip.
2. A flexible piece which is formed.
Lock mechanism. 3. The flexible piece sandwiches the bracket.
And is disposed on the opposite side of the lock arm.
The lock mechanism according to claim 2, wherein 4. A pair of side walls and an upper side are provided on an upper surface of the housing.
A shared space surrounded on all sides by the wall and the top of the housing
And openings at a plurality of positions communicating with this shared space.
Bracket holder with
The opening has a wedge-shaped projection at the tip that extends from the upper wall.
Each having a locking arm, The plate-shaped bracket can be shared from any of the openings.
Even if it is inserted into the space, one of the slots located
The tip of the bracket abuts the projection of the
And the other lock located on the near side in the insertion direction
A lock hole formed in the bracket at the protrusion of the arm
A locking mechanism characterized by locking.